This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53575883
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US election: Biden pledges billions to improve racial equality | US election: Biden pledges billions to improve racial equality |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden has promised to spend tens of billions of dollars to help people of colour overcome economic inequality, if he wins the election in November. | Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden has promised to spend tens of billions of dollars to help people of colour overcome economic inequality, if he wins the election in November. |
| In a speech in his home town of Wilmington, Mr Biden promised to boost opportunities for Black, Latino and Native American businesses. | In a speech in his home town of Wilmington, Mr Biden promised to boost opportunities for Black, Latino and Native American businesses. |
| He accused President Donald Trump of stoking the flames of racism. | He accused President Donald Trump of stoking the flames of racism. |
| He also accused Mr Trump of failing to protect people from coronavirus. | |
| Mr Biden holds a clear lead over the president in national polls. | Mr Biden holds a clear lead over the president in national polls. |
| He said he would choose his running-mate "in the first week in August". He has already promised to choose a female vice-presidential candidate. | He said he would choose his running-mate "in the first week in August". He has already promised to choose a female vice-presidential candidate. |
| "This election is not just about voting against Donald Trump," Mr Biden said. | "This election is not just about voting against Donald Trump," Mr Biden said. |
| "It's about rising to this moment of crisis, understanding people's struggles and building a future worthy of their courage and their ambition to overcome." | "It's about rising to this moment of crisis, understanding people's struggles and building a future worthy of their courage and their ambition to overcome." |
| The former vice-president to Barack Obama accused Mr Trump of playing politics of division. | The former vice-president to Barack Obama accused Mr Trump of playing politics of division. |
| "This is about trying to split the country. And so far, thank God, the American people aren't having any of it," he said. | "This is about trying to split the country. And so far, thank God, the American people aren't having any of it," he said. |
| "Did you ever think you'd see 77% of the people saying Black Lives Matter? Because they see what happens. And they're not buying into this racial division. That's what he's done since the beginning." | "Did you ever think you'd see 77% of the people saying Black Lives Matter? Because they see what happens. And they're not buying into this racial division. That's what he's done since the beginning." |
| Mr Biden said he would "leverage more than $150 billion [£116 billion] in new capital and opportunities for small businesses that have been structurally excluded for generations". This would include by increasing access low-interest business loans. | Mr Biden said he would "leverage more than $150 billion [£116 billion] in new capital and opportunities for small businesses that have been structurally excluded for generations". This would include by increasing access low-interest business loans. |
| Trump is making Biden look strong | Trump is making Biden look strong |
| Elections are often framed as a choice between continuity and change. Yet a selling point for Biden is that he offers voters a version of both. | Elections are often framed as a choice between continuity and change. Yet a selling point for Biden is that he offers voters a version of both. |
| To the eight in 10 Americans who polling suggests believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, he is promising a course correction. Thus, he can plausibly present himself as a candidate of change. | To the eight in 10 Americans who polling suggests believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, he is promising a course correction. Thus, he can plausibly present himself as a candidate of change. |
| But by pledging to serve as a conventional president, returning to the norms of behaviour that Republicans and Democratic incumbents have abided by for decades, he also represents a continuum. The repair of a chain in which Trump became the missing link. | But by pledging to serve as a conventional president, returning to the norms of behaviour that Republicans and Democratic incumbents have abided by for decades, he also represents a continuum. The repair of a chain in which Trump became the missing link. |
| Certainly, it would be an act of folly to write off Trump, who has walked away from more car crashes than any other sitting president. | Certainly, it would be an act of folly to write off Trump, who has walked away from more car crashes than any other sitting president. |
| But over the past four years, the scar tissue has accumulated, and the pandemic has left him with self-inflicted wounds. Besides, even some of the supporters who placed their faith in him are tiring of his tricks of escapology - the boasts, the truth-twisting and the insults. | But over the past four years, the scar tissue has accumulated, and the pandemic has left him with self-inflicted wounds. Besides, even some of the supporters who placed their faith in him are tiring of his tricks of escapology - the boasts, the truth-twisting and the insults. |
| This has become a Covid election. Now it is the president's weaknesses that are making Joe Biden look so strong. | This has become a Covid election. Now it is the president's weaknesses that are making Joe Biden look so strong. |
| Read more of Nick's analysis here. | Read more of Nick's analysis here. |